PC game problems, sorted by symptom
A reference for people in Australia who play on a Windows, Mac or Linux computer and have run into something that does not work.
Start with what you can actually see on screen: an installer that stops partway, a launcher that never opens, a game that closes at the same moment every time, a sign-in page that rejects a password you know is right, or a charge on a bank statement nobody remembers approving. Each page below takes one of those symptoms, lists the usual causes in the order they are worth checking, and finishes with where to go if none of the fixes work.
Choose what you are seeing
- The game will not installDownloads that stall, space errors, installers that close straight away.
- The launcher will not openNothing happens on click, endless updates, a blank window.
- It crashes or goes blackCloses to the desktop, freezes, sound with no picture.
- It runs badlyLow frame rate, stutter, or actions that land late.
- You cannot sign inReset emails, codes that fail, an account someone else has changed.
- There is a charge you did not expectTracing it, asking for a refund, and setting purchase limits.
- Looking at Raid: Shadow LegendsWhat its publisher says about it and what to check before installing.
Symptom, likely cause, first check
If you only have a minute, this table points to the check that resolves a symptom most often in practice. It is a starting point drawn from general troubleshooting experience, not a measured ranking.
| What you see | Common cause | Try this first |
|---|---|---|
| Download stuck at the same percentage | Dropped connection or a full drive | Pause, check free space, resume |
| Installer closes as soon as it opens | Incomplete download or blocked file | Download it again from the publisher's own site |
| Launcher icon does nothing | A copy already running in the background | End it in Task Manager or Activity Monitor |
| Crash at the same point each time | A damaged game file | Use the launcher's repair or verify option |
| Stutter after an update | Graphics driver or settings reset | Update the driver from the card maker |
| Password rejected | Wrong email on the account, or a changed password | Reset through the official site only |
Five checks before you dig deeper
- Restart properly. Shut down and power on again rather than waking from sleep. On Windows, use Restart from the Start menu, because the default Shut down can keep part of the system in memory.
- Check space and stated requirements. Look up the minimum specification on the game's own website and compare it with your computer's storage, memory and operating system version.
- Install updates. Bring the operating system up to date, then get the graphics driver from the company that made the graphics chip, not from a third-party "updater".
- Repair the files. Most launchers can scan a game's files and replace damaged ones. This is slower than a restart but faster than a full reinstall.
- Look for an outage, then ask support. If several players report the same fault at the same time, the problem is probably on the publisher's side. Use only the support address published on the game's official site.
Downloads: where avoidable trouble begins
A large share of installation problems trace back to where the installer came from. Copies offered on unofficial download sites can be out of date, incomplete, or bundled with software you did not ask for, and "cracked" versions remove the checks that keep a game updated. The safest habit is simple: get games from the publisher's own website or a store you already use and recognise.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre publishes general advice for households on keeping devices and software updated. If a site or message offering a game, a cheat or in-game currency turns out to be a scam, you can report it to Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre.
The one title covered by name
Raid: Shadow Legends is a battle collection RPG. Its publisher describes it as a game in which you assemble an alliance of Champions and lead them through Dungeons, Clan Boss fights and a fully voiced Campaign set across 12 locations, with tactical player-versus-environment (PvE) play where each choice matters. That description is all we rely on for product details.
The description does not state a price, system requirements, an age classification or what in-game purchases are offered, so we do not state those either. Check them on the vendor's site before installing. Our link is meant for readers on a desktop or laptop computer. The overview page sets out what to check first.
Paid link. We earn a commission if you register, install and start the tutorial after following this button. Your cost is not affected.
Money, age and household settings
Unexpected charges are usually in-game purchases made on a saved card, sometimes by another member of the household. The spending page covers how to trace a charge, who to ask for a refund, and how to require a password for every purchase. For your rights when something you paid for does not work as described, the ACCC explains the consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law.
For age questions, search the Australian Classification Board website for a title's current classification. The eSafety Commissioner has guidance for parents and carers on games and online safety.
How pages here are written
Every fix on this site:
- starts from a visible symptom rather than a guessed cause;
- puts the quickest, reversible checks before anything that deletes data or changes system settings;
- uses tools already built into the operating system or the game's own launcher;
- never asks you to switch off security protections permanently or install software from us. We offer no downloads.
We do not run lab tests or publish benchmark scores, and we will not imply otherwise. The about page explains who publishes the site and how coverage is chosen.
When the problem is not technical
Sometimes a "bug" turns out to be someone else. An account that suddenly shows a new email address, a friend's message offering cheap in-game currency, or a login page that looks right but has a slightly odd web address are signs to stop and follow the account recovery steps instead of troubleshooting the game.
If a company tells you your details were involved in a data breach, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner explains what organisations must do and what you can ask of them.